The Roe 8 Alliance contractors will be paid about $40 million for work completed so far while a further sum – less than $10 million – will be paid in lieu of their lost opportunity to fully recover overheads.

Total State Government expenditure on the Roe 8 project will be $85 million, however, after allowing for retained assets such as land, the written off costs total $46.9 million.

The alliance team will also collaboratively manage the rehabilitation of the cleared Roe 8 site in Coolbellup.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti blasted the former Liberal government for pressing on so far with the Roe 8 project.

“Had the previous government taken the conservative option of only clearing to Bibra Drive in the lead up to the State election then total expenditure on Roe 8 would have been $61 million and the written off costs would only have been $22.9 million,” she said.

“The alternative would have been contract termination, loss of jobs and a potential long and protracted legal dispute.

“We have worked closely with Main Roads, the Roe 8 Alliance and the Commonwealth Government to bring forward important projects that will relieve congestion, reduce journey times and improve safety in key locations on our road network.

“The WA public gave the McGowan Government a mandate to scrap the Roe 8 project and we have acted quickly to reassign the workforce to new congestion-busting projects.”